Collections and Critiques

Exhibitions at Widener Library this week have taken on a decidedly religious aspect. In Widener room, the showing for the week is composed almost entirely of old bibles or prayer books, while the Treasure room is featuring a collection of the printings of Isiah Thomas, old publisher of Worcester, Massachusetts, in the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Several unusual copies are to be seen in the Widener room. One very old edition, of which there are but three other copies extant at the present time, is the "York Manual." This masterpiece was written entirely by hand in red and black figures, and inserted between the lines are musical notations, which are in many cases the same as are used in hymns sung at churches of the present day.

The "Sarum Primer" is being shown in two or three different editions. One of these, written by hand in 1475, is colored with red, blue, and black letters, while there are illuminated decorations at intervals throughout the book. Another "Sarum" was printed by the French Antonio Verard in 1504, then illuminated by hand. On the border of every page are four-pictures, some groups of them beautifully colored.

Featured among the printings of Isiah Thomas in the Treasure Room is his old family bible, published in the year 1787. The, among his numerous editions are some children's books, of which one is the "Renowned History of Goody Two-shoes." Other works are an "Introduction to the Latin Tongue," a "History of Printing," and several pages from the "Massachusetts Sun," a paper published by Thomas.